LEGION BASEBALL: Greencastle unable to close out Chambersburg

GREENCASTLE — Leading 3-1 in the top of the seventh, Greencastle Post 373 was two outs away from registering its first win of the 2013 Franklin County American Legion League baseball season.

And then, the wheels fell off.

After managing just two hits through six innings, Chambersburg Post 46 erupted for eight runs in the final frame, rallying for a 9-4, come-from-behind victory Tuesday night.

With the leadoff batter retired, Greencastle appeared comfortably in control before a Tige McCurdy single and two consecutive hit batsmen abruptly loaded the bases.

Called upon to pinch hit, Dyon Taylor-Myers came through in the clutch, lacing a shot down the third base line to tie the game at 3-3.

From here, the flood gates opened, as a two-run double by Jesse Wenrick put Chambersburg ahead before singles from Colby Dice and McCurdy paired with two Greencastle errors dramatically changing the game's complexion.

Now trailing by six, Post 373 manufactured only one run in the home half, as a base knock by Holden Baker and two passed balls set up a sacrifice fly from Dalton Webster, resulting in the 9-4 final.

It was a deflating conclusion to a contest that seemed well in-hand, especially considering how the opening six innings had unfolded.

Starting pitcher Thomas Bowers was in command through 6 1/3, surrendering just one run on two hits in the fifth before being unable to finish the seventh.

Prior to Chambersburg's decisive rally, Bowers had recorded four 1-2-3 innings, allowing Greencastle to dictate the tempo throughout.

A walk to Baker followed by an error and a sacrifice fly from Elijah Webster granted Post 373 a 1-0 lead in the second.

Greencastle pushed across another in the third, as a free pass to Kurt Hansen preceded a single by Justin Hovey and a RBI groundout from Josh Young, extending the margin to 2-0.

Held hitless through four, Chambersburg finally found some offense in the fifth, with a triple by McCurdy and a double off the bat of Hunter Brindle cutting the deficit to one.

Post 373 responded in the home half, with a single and stolen base by Hovey putting Greencastle in scoring position. Bowers followed with a base knock to left, moving Hovey to third, before a passed ball re-established Post 373's two-tally lead at 3-1.

The opportunity was there to extend the advantage in the sixth, with Greencastle being unable to cash in after loading the bases with one out.

For the game, Post 373 left 12 runners on base, including leaving them loaded in the third, fifth and sixth innings.

Hovey had a sensational evening at the plate, finishing a perfect 4-for-4 to pace Greencastle's production.

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